Lung tuberculosis and malignant neoplasms: the current state of the problem

Pulmonary tuberculosis and malignant neoplasms (MNs) are important global healthcare issues. There has been a large number of studies on the relationship between pulmonary tuberculosis and MNs, but comprehensive approaches to diagnosis and treatment of these diseases need to be developed and implemented. Objective. To study the relationship between pulmonary tuberculosis and malignant neoplasms at the current stage of phthisiology. Materials and methods. Analysis of domestic and foreign databases for the period from 1976 to 2024 was performed. The following keywords were used for the search of literature: «tuberculosis», «cancer», «malignant neoplasms». Results. There is a large amount of publications in the world literature proving that the mechanisms of development of the tuberculous inflammation and the neoplastic process, in particular the formation of immune response, are similar, and this makes it difficult to timely detect and identify the pathological process. The cause-effect relationship of these diseases has been proven. As a result of this correlation, the tuberculous process increases the risk of MNs development by 3 times or more, and conversely, the development of the neoplastic process can lead to the risk of tuberculous infection accession or reactivation of «old» post-tuberculous changes. Tuberculosis and MNs have similar clinical symptoms, which complicates timely diagnosis and leads to establishment of misdiagnosis. Similarity of these two diseases is also found in X-ray examination. In this connection, the important direction at the current stage of phthisiology is to find comprehensive approaches to diagnosis, management and treatment of patients with tuberculosis and lung cancer. Conclusion. The results of the literature review showed a close relationship between the tuberculous process and malignant lung neoplasms. In immune disorders, a favorable environment for the development of both tuberculosis and neoplastic process is formed. Tuberculosis and malignant neoplasms have similar clinical and radiological symptoms, which complicates timely diagnosis and may lead to the establishment of misdiagnosis.